affordwatches

Gordon MIA

June 12, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

Cathy Kerr Reports:
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON DAY 6:
Sally reports:
Monday was, as predicted, horrible heavy rainy weather. Cathy had Gordon still on the same ledge, his siblings on the nest ledge and took a break to meet me to grab some lunch. Returning to the site, with rain still falling, we couldn’t see Gordon. The usual guilt set in that all fledge watchers deal with: The time taken to wait and watch and the awful timing of needing to leave your chair and then not knowing what happened. It was so windy around the building and fog had settled in, making for very poor visibility. We alternated driving around, walking, searching and watching in the car (rain) and hoping he was pancaked on the ledge. But it was becoming obvious he was not there. The parents weren’t searching and the rain kept every winged creature hunkered down for quite some time (no hunting and food brought in either).
Eventually, when the sky cleared, the nest area came to life again. Birds flying about, and Holden and Nagata flew around and off to get food. We resumed our walkabout. At one point, Holden came to corner of the nest building and dropped in food. We had heard what sounded like a juvie a little earlier…could Gordon have possibly gained that much elevation? This corner is incredibly windy and watching the parent lift up in that area, we allowed ourselves a little hope. We waited and watched. With Cathy there I took a walk out onto Eglinton which gives a great view of that corner but without my camera, my binoculars could only make out a couple of little shapes poking up above the edge.
We needed to get back to focus on the two girls who were now up on the ledge. Yay, finally Lightfoot was in full view. No flights from the girls so we closed the watch trying to feel hopeful but disappointed we couldn’t confirm Gordon’s location.

Fledge finally!

June 11, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

Cathy Kerr Reports:
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON DAY 5:
Catch up time!  Sally reports:
Sunday began with more waiting, and some rain. Anticipating another day of trying not to doze off we decided to break and return when siesta time was over (otherwise we would be snoozing with the birds!).
Bob arrived before Cathy and I and was fortunate to to see a fledgling suddenly flapping down down down then lifted up by a parent and guided onto a low ledge on the nest building, facing north (perhaps a slip/accidental fledge). Cathy arrived to the news, confirmed Gordon on the ledge and I joined Bob and Cathy shortly after. Gordon didn’t do much and we had him and his siblings in sight. Paige made an appearance on the ledge, we got her band colour, and the elusive Lightfoot showed us her head from time to time. We closed Sunday with Gordon on the low ledge.

And we wait….

June 10, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

Cathy Kerr Reports:

FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON :  DAY 4! Well wish I could say Gordon, at 39 days old, flew today but nope! He seemed so excited to see his sisters finally join him… Guess he’s waiting for them! Long day for us tho! Rob & Ted joined Sally and I this morning to get some pics (hoping for that fledge shot!), so it was nice to have company. Holden and Nagata treated us to some lovely flying.. Showing the kids what they will be able to do one day. After Ted and Rob left it quieted down. Dad did take down, and I mean down, a poor turkey vulture. I did finally get a picture of all 3 chicks together. And Paige finally got up on the ledge and showed us her band. Not a peregrine but Sally saw a Sharp-shinned hawk dive into the bushes(very low) and flush around 50 black birds and such into the air, then fly low practically at her, then into the bushes at the back with his dinner. So that was cool. So, will Gordon fly at 40 days? Or will Paige beat him to it? Bets anyone lol?


Day 3…Still no fledge

June 09, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

Cathy Kerr Reports:

FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON :  DAY THREE

Well, they are all still up there lol. The day started out very promising. Even though it rained a fair bit in the morning (much needed), smoke was gone and Gordon seemed raring to go. Lots of ledge running, flapping - a few slips but he recovered. Parents definitely not feeding much… Hungry kids! But just after the rain stopped, people arrived right below the nest ledge and set up a Barbeque. Music, people, then a kid with his dog off leash chasing a ball… Parents said no way and kept Gordon on that ledge. Sigh. Party wasn’t over until 3. Sally had joined me by then and we watched mostly just Gordon now, waiting for food. It was brought in a tiny piece at a time. And the girls got it lol. When mom landed, he went after her… He had her by her toe!!! Later when dad tried to bring in food, mom swooped in and grabbed it from him and was off! It was quite funny, tho Gordon didn’t think so. He finally got the scraps from the last of the days food drop and down he went for the night. Those girls hardly showed.. Just the one in the morning. It’s going to be a longgggg watch.
Pictures thanks to Sally

DAY 2-NO FLEDGE

June 08, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

Cathy Kerr Reports:

FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON :  DAY TWO

Another smokey day(I had to sit in my car to watch, my eyes were so bad), tho the afternoon was a bit better. No fledge yet. Another day of watching Gordon get more comfortable on the ledge and pull more fluff from his body. His sibling that I believe is Lightfoot showed up about the same as yesterday, so maybe we do have 2 girls lol. The other girl we believe (Sally joined me in the evening again) was peeking over the ledge with Lightfoot. But since no legs, no ID.  Parents got upset at one point as someone was on the roof of the other building but it was over quick. They sat and stared at that spot from the nest building for quite a while lol. They showed the kids a lot of flying again and even did a food exchange right in front of them… Very cool to watch and very impressed with these parents and their teaching skills. Tomorrow is calling for more smoke and much needed rain,  though not the best for first fledge(or fledge watchers lol). We will see what the day brings!

DAY ONE FLEDGE WATCH

June 07, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

Cathy Kerr Reports:

FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON : DAY ONE

A quiet, though smokey, day. I was happy to finally see Gordon (and ID him) up on the ledge! And his sibling was just behind him(I believe it’s Lightfoot but have no proof lol), which was a big improvement over the past few days Sally and I have been checking on them. Only heads peeking over. Gordon did lots of flapping and even walked along the ledge. He still has lots of fluff on his tush but is almost ready to go. The girls(or is it one girl, 2 boys??? Time will tell) , well one especially, are going to be a while. Unless accidental… Holden and Nagata were also excited to see them up… They did some great training flights, showing them how its done and where to go. Nagata took on a turkey vulture that got too close… He’s not coming back any time soon! It was lovely to see the parents flying and being playful with each other. Sally joined me for the evening but it was pretty quiet after their dinner. Feedings are definitely less but these kids seem to be very well fed… They aren’t screaming for food or going at the parents for it… Or else they’re very well behaved! So that’s the official day one done… Hopefully the smoke from the forest fires will be better tomorrow (let’s hope for rain so they can get them under control, or out!). And maybe a fledge tomorrow

Banding Day! 3 healthy chicks!

May 25, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

Cathy Kerr Reports:
Banding day at Don Mills/Amexon!! And it’s 3 chicks for Holden and Nagata! 2 girls and a boy. Gordon, Lightfoot and Paige! All very healthy and fiesty. Our new climber John did a great job on his first trip down to the nest at this site, with Mark Nash assisting. Nagata and Holden took it easy on him(just wait for Lin, John lol). Mark Heaton and Glenn Anderson, did the banding, Marion took the stats and Sally and I documented with pictures! Great job done by all! Fledge watch starts June 5!
Gordon, male, 620g, banded C/38, yellow/green tape
Lightfoot, female, 775g, banded 25/AB, red tape
Paige, female, 920g, banded 24/AB white tape

Sam from Don Mills and Eglinton see yesterday

May 06, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

Marion Nash Reports:

Sam hatched in 2022 at the 150 Ferrand Dr. Nest Don Mills has been seen at the Scarborough Bluffs and Rosetta McClain Gardens yesterday. Thanks to a report and photos from Jason Milson and David Cooper we will be keeping an eye open for Sam and hopefully get more reports.


4 Eggs!!!!

April 03, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

Cathy Kerr Reports:

It’s 4 eggs for Holden and Nagata!!! I’ve been watching our resident pair all winter (they liked to perch on the building I work in, so I saw them most mornings when I arrived).  As they are unbanded, there is no way of definitely IDing them, but as I’ve seen them since last summer, I’m fairly confident it’s the same pair. There has been lots of activity at the building, with the Sony sign coming down (so sad… All the peregrines at this site have loved that sign!) and then the window washer was there for awhile, I was a touch worried that this relatively new pair might be spooked off, but no, they just waited.  I saw mating over 10 days ago and then observed just one peregrine at a time shortly after. And as I saw an exchange last Thursday, I knew I had to get up there to confirm… And last night, I got my son to come with me and we found 4 eggs!! They both spotted us immediately and told us in no uncertain terms to leave.. And we did. Hatch watch will start in about 3 weeks… Can’t wait!


Sam hangs with the locals!

July 15, 2022 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

Cathy Kerr Reports:

SPOT CHECK DON MILLS /AMEXON :  Our next stop was to check in on Sam! Now I have been seeing him quite regularly since I work close by. So some pictures are from last week and the last one is from last night. Last week I found him across the street playing with the locals lol… They were not impressed. Last night at first we just saw the parents. We finally decided to leave when up he popped on the rooftop. Good to see him doing so well.